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Faced with a third-and-18 from the Giants 33, quarterback Alex Smith could not find anyone open in the second quarter.

The right side of the field was wide open, and 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh started to pinwheel his right arm with vigor. Smith, taking the cue, bolted from the pocket and ran for 12 yards.

The play set up David Akers’ 39-yard field goal, his third of the game. Smith got the gain, Akers got the field goal, but Harbaugh gets the assist.

Smith was at it again at the end of the half, racing for another 14 yards to get the 49ers within field goal range. Unfortunately for him, the 49ers couldn’t convert because wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. dropped a pass that was intercepted by cornerback Corey Webster.

Nevertheless, Smith is adding running to his game, which he said is the biggest difference in his play from last year.

“(I’m) making better decisions,” Smith said after the 19-11 win over the Redskins last Sunday. “I wasn’t pulling down as much (last year), being my own check down.”

Smith was also better than the “elite” Eli Manning in the first half. Smith completed 12 of 17 passes for 151 yards and an interception that wasn’t his fault. Manning completed 13 of 18 for 121 yards and interception to Carlos Rodgers that was clearly his fault.